Fallon vs. The American Idol Factor

By Mark Nolte

When the topic of the gubernatorial race comes up in conversations at coffee shops, salons, fence posts and county Democratic committee meetings across the state a common phrase is invariably uttered in a connotation similar to this:  “Personally, I really like Ed Fallon, BUT….”   This is where it gets tricky, because the sentence usually ends with something like, “I just don’t think he’s electable.”  Or  “He’s too idealistic to beat Nussle in the general.” 

Let's start with the latter of the two comments.  While you were sleeping, someone came in and convinced you that our government should be passive, mediocre, pandering and uncommittal.  It's time to wake up.  Our job as voters is to identify with our support and votes the individual who has the best ideals.  We are to expect from our government innovation, leadership and the fortitude to affect positive change.   Ideals and ideas, especially those presented by Rep. Fallon, are exactly what we should be looking for, not fearing.  His thoughts on improving the state resonate with real people regardless of their party affiliation.  We should seek candidates like Ed rather than shudder at novel thought as we do. 

Now we move to the heart of the first issue.  “Electability.”  Lets face it.  When someone says something like "Ed is not electable," they are really saying:  “I tend to vote for the person who looks most like the part, you know, like they could be a newscaster.  I want the suit, the hair, the height.  Kind of that Edwards / Clinton type charm with that Obama-esque presence.  Thus, I can’t publicly support Ed because he is tall and thin, his hair is as absent as a Democratic majority and he doesn’t wear expensive shoes.  So while I really don’t think Culver or Blouin’s ideas are anything to write home about… I’ll probably support them because they look better on TV.”   

If we as voters want a better future, we need to stop judging based on the American Idol factor, where looks get the best of talent.  If we want political strategists to message to the lowest common denominator, we need only continue acting the part.  Or, we can be educated on the issues, open to ideas and ready to support an individual who offers us something different and better, regardless of what she or he looks like. 

I’m not trying to sway anyone to support Ed Fallon if his vision does not mesh with yours.  If you have found yourself uttering a statement like the one above, however, I encourage you to take a moment to honestly assess the reality of the message. 

Like every Democrat, I will support the primary winner.  I just hope that person meets our ideals rather than merely an image.

Feingold's Visit to Iowa City

By Sam Garchik

Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold came to Iowa City yesterday to remind us that we need to do everything we can to elect Dave Loebsack.  "There are critical moments when we are deciding the well being of the American People.  This is the time to break one party rule."  Feingold moved on to Cedar Rapids for a fundraiser for Dave.  Before he could go, Dennis and Robin Roseman stopped to ask about an FAA contract dispute. 

Did anyone else get a chance to talk to, or see Feingold?  What were your impressions?

Iowa Blog Roundup

by Sam Garchik

First, a death and a birth.  Who's Makin Bacon is quitting the business.  It will be sad to see him go.  The rest of us will try to carry on as best we can. The birth comes from Iowa Progress, which launched what they claim was "the first progressive podcast in the state."  Check it out.

And for those who think that our best chance for a Gore Presidency was stolen in 2000, Century for the Common Iowan explained that the mechanisms were in place for a Gore presidency if we elect a Democratic Congress.  It will take a big crisis in government, but one that we know here at BFIA is long overdue.

And finally, we come to humor: a get well card for Grassley from Iowa Progress, and how many Shrub administration members does it take to change a lightbulb from Iowa Liberal.

Once again, you can check out all the Iowa Blogs I subscribe to via Feedblitz, which consolidates your surfing and sends the posts to you daily via email.

Look forward to a post, with pictures, on the Feingold visit to Iowa City later today.

The Course is Changing!

by Sam Garchik

According to the Hill, the Course is Being Changed!  Open debate on Iraq is coming to a legislative body near you!  Excellent work by Michelle Vanderhoff, who kept me up to speed on this important issue.

Also interesting reading:  Vermont moves towards an impeachment resolution, and Zinn rails against Shrub in the Progressive.  Finally, this great article in the New York Review explains why blogs are important, and how we can use them to make the world a better place.

Stay tuned for an Iowa Blog round-up tomorrow.

Iowa GOP aims for Same-Sex Marriage Ban

By Sam Garchik

This just in, courtesy of Linda.  The GOP is trying, once again, to make same-sex marriage an issue in the state.  According to an article posted today in the Advocate, 17 Iowa GOP lawmakers have jumped in on a previously filed lawsuit, and a ruling is expected by the end of the summer. 

Is this another attempt by the GOP to drive conservatives to the polls?  More information on this will certainly be forthcoming...

Feingold's Trip to Iowa

by Sam Garchik

I basically cribbed this from the press release, but here it is: Presidential contenders coming to Iowa to stump for candidates:

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will be traveling to Iowa this week, Friday, April 28th and Saturday, April 29th.  He will hold fundraisers for 2nd Congressional District Candidate Dave Loebsack on Friday and 4th Congressional District Candidate Selden Spencer on Saturday. 

Feingold will also speak on Friday at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City.  The speech is open to the public. Feingold will discuss the President’s illegal domestic wiretapping program as well as his resolution to censure the President for those illegal actions.  Feingold’s censure resolution is the first step toward holding the President accountable for breaking the law.  Iowa Senator Tom Harkin was the first Senator to publicly support and cosponsor Feingold’s censure resolution shortly after it was introduced.  

Feingold will stop by three congressional district conventions on Saturday, (the third, fourth, and fifth congressional districts) and visit with those in attendance.   

Below is Feingold’s schedule for Iowa, April 28th - 29th.

Friday, April 28th

3:30pm – 4:30pm  Speech at the University of Iowa River Room

5:30pm – 6:30pm  Fundraiser for 2nd CD candidate Dave Loebsack, Science Station, 427 1st St. SE, Cedar Rapids

Saturday, April 29th

10::30am – 11:15am  5th CD convention, Clarke Community High School. 800 N Jackson Street, Osceola, IA

12:15pm – 1:00pm  3rd CD convention, Johnston High School, 6501 NW 62nd Avenue

3:30pm – 4:00pm  4th CD convention, Best Western Starlite Village Inn, Junction of Highways 57 and 169 Fort Dodge, IA

4:00pm – 4:45pm  Fundraiser for 4th CD candidate Selden Spencer, Best Western Starlite Village Inn, Junction of Highways 57 and 169 Fort Dodge, IA

New Champions for Local Control Legislation: Farmers

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By Mark Nolte
 
Until recently the issue of local control was a movement aimed at keeping environmentally detrimental factory style hog confinement operations away from Iowa communities and farms.  Citing issues of water table contamination, odor and property devaluation, a variety of groups have lobbied legislators to give local citizens the ability to determine how property in and around their community is utilized rather than relying generic standards set at the state and federal levels.

Corporately funded opposition to local control legislation has sought to paint these groups as being anti farmer, anti business and anti economic development.  Stating that in Iowa, farmers should be allowed to farm. 

But now there is a growing acceptance of such legislature by Iowa farmers themselves.  They are coming to acknowledge that, while local control is one way to keep factory confinement operations away from residential property, local control is also a way to protect Iowa farmland and our environment from rural sprawl.   

A Washington County farmer, who asked to remain anonymous stated, “I think it is  ridiculous that people build homes next to Century Farms and then turn around and complain about the (sic) smell.  We should be able to prevent them from developing so close to our farms.” 

While groups opposed to large scale hog confinements and family farmers might seem like strange bedfellows on the surface, research from the American Farmland Trust indicates that, Every year, more than 11,000 acres of farmland are lost to development in Iowa. 

If Iowa continues to allow uncontrolled development in rural areas, we run the risk of losing the family farmers who have served as the stewards of our land for centuries.  Legislation that would allow local control may be farming families last tool to protect and preserve Iowa’s most pristine lands and our agrarian heritage. 

This legislation also gives residents more control over the property tax burden they must bear to provide the costly infrastructure necessary to allow this overdevelopment. 

Further reading:   http://www.plannersweb.com/sprawl/focus.html
   http://www.cis.org/articles/2003/SprawlBackground82603.html